Monday, May 5, 2014

[ACKS] Bugbears

Sorry about the lack of posts recently. I've been too busy working and actually running ACKS to really write about it :)

We've monkeyed about a bit with some proficiencies, and I am in the process of adding a few bits from Lamentations of the Flame Princess to the game (mostly, the way Specialists work vs. the way Thieves work.) My party has collected 2 (or 3, depending on who you ask) cards from the Deck of Many Things of this world, and having reached between 4th and 6th level after many, many biweekly sessions, are beginning to slowly become players in the political atmosphere. Granted that many of the more vocal ones are horribly Chaotic, and "player" can mean "guy who flips the chess board." So far they've stayed under the radar, and the Powers that Be think they are playing by the rules.
I don't actually like having too many different types of goblinoids/beastkin. However, my adventurers are coming up on spots where they may begin intersecting with the workings of the other planets (this is a Dwimmermount campaign, so a modified Areon and a modified Kythirea are accessible.) Thus I needed some things to make their encounters with aliens more unique. Thus, the Red Elves of Areon are accompanied by their own Brute Squad, bugbears who I have modified slightly to be more deadly... They're faster, have better morale, and have a nasty surprise in the form of the Ambushing proficiency. These bugbears have come a long way from the barghest worshipping goblins of my campaign world, Talis, and would not even recognize kinship with their terrestrial ancestral stock.BUGBEARIn Lair: 16+ (25%)Dungeon: Gang (2d4) / Lair (1 warband)Wilderness: Warband (1d4 gangs) / Village (1d10 warbands)Alignment: ChaoticMovement: 120' (40')AC: 4 (leather, +1 Dexterity, +1 natural)Hit Dice: 3+1*Attacks: 1 (by weapon, 8+)Damage: 2d4 or by weapon +1Save: F3Morale: +3TT: L (per warband)XP: 100

Bugbears are the descendants of Eldritch tinkerings on hobgoblin and goblin bloodlines, with the intent to make a troop with all the strength and strategy of a hobgoblin, and the stealth and low cunning of a goblin. In this case, Eldritch tinkering was wildly successful, breeding a race of nearly silent, hulking goblinoids with a penchant for murder and the skills and patience to carry the deed out.

Bugbears are both monstrously strong, receiving a +1 to damage when they employ weapons, and deceptively stealthy, causing their foes to suffer a -1 penalty to surprise rolls. Bugbears tend to go armed with garrottes, massive two handed weapons, nets, and many-edged throwing knives, striking from the shadows and melting back into darkness. A bugbear attacking from surprise receives a +4 bonus to hit, and deals double damage on their successful strike. Bugbears do have a grasp of tactics, and can and will fight intelligently with any weapon. Those under the heel of Eldritch masters are often outfitted with banded armor, tower shields, and spears in parody of the ancient panoply of the foes of elfkind. Bugbears have an arsonist's love of fire, and will devise unusual and horrible uses for military oil, azoth, or any other combustible.

Each bugbear gang will be led by a champion with AC5, 4+1 Hit Dice, 25 hit points, and a +2 bonus to damage rolls from strength. Each bugbear warband will be led by a sub-chieftain with AC6, 5+1 Hit Dice, 29 hit points, and a +3 bonus to damage
rolls.

On the Red Planet, any semblance of "bugbear culture", shamans, or witch doctors were brutally and systematically wiped out centuries ago, but stray populations do exist where such creatures have once again flourished. A free bugbear lair or village will be led by a chieftain with AC7, 7+2 Hit Dice, 37 hit points, and a +4 bonus to damage rolls. As long as the chieftain is alive, the bugbears will gain a +1 to morale rolls. A bugbear village has a 75% chance of a shaman being present, and a 50% chance of a witch doctor. A shaman is equivalent to a sub-chieftain statistically, but has Clerical abilities at level 1d6. A witch doctor is equivalent to a champion statistically, but has Mage abilities at level 1d4. Bugbear lairs and villages will have females and young equal to 50% of the number of males each. Female bugbears fight as hobgoblins, while young bugbears fight as kobolds.